Thieves

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Home : 2002 : December : 15

Thieves
By Renee

I had a couple of theives in my room last year (4th grade). One of them was worse than the other and would steal anything he could get his hands on. This is very bad at our school because we don't have any doors. Our school
was one of those open concept schools of the 70's without walls or doors. Well, they put up some walls but no doors. Nothing can be locked. We have one locking cabinet and that's it, so anyone could gain access to your stuff at any time.
The one kid would try to come back to the room at times when it was empty to steal stuff. He stole money, pencils, everything. The worst thing

he did was to steal from the homeless. We have a Christmas tree in the cafeteria each year and kids donate new hats, mittens, scarves, etc. to homeless people by hanging them on the tree. This kid would steal stuff off the tree daily. He would attempt to wear them in the morning and afternoon, not even caring that they were stolen. A kid tipped me off that he was doing this and I searched his stuff. I found about 10 things brand new with tags still on in his desk and backpack. Who knows how many he got home with. I was appalled and sickened! He had no conscience about it whatsoever! The SRO talked to him to no avail. He later stole 20 dollars from a girl, we knew it was him, kids saw him, but we couldn't find it on him.
What I had to end up doing was this. I made a square of masking tape on the floor big enough for his desk and chair at the front of the room. Put all of his posessions there and that was the only area he was allowed to go in. He had to carry all of his stuff with him at all times because he was not allowed to go to they cubbies or anyone else's desk. Any community space was off limits to him. It sounds cruel, but that's what the officer said to do. It curtailed the stealing but didn't stop it altogether. We still could not keep him from sneaking back into the room. I cannot tell you how glad I was to see this kid go at the end of the year. I know this is terrible, but I just had no positive feelings for him in my body. Good luck! Hang in there!